5 days ago
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REGGAE BOYZ head coach expects a squad of approximately 50 players to take him through a busy summer with three major assignments in the coming months.
Jamaica are scheduled to compete in the Unity Cup next month before returning to World Cup qualification action in June, just ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup in the same month.
McClaren said the back-to-back assignments will mean his management staff will select a large pool of players to contest all three competitions before picking their final roster of players for the Gold Cup.
The timing of the Unity Cup, in particular, McClaren explained, will mean depending on a greater number of players.
The Unity Cup falls outside of FIFA’s international window, meaning a number of key names will be out due to club obligations.
THREE CAMPS
“It is going to be a busy summer with three camps. First the Unity Cup, the World Cup Qualifiers and then the Gold Cup,” McClaren explained.
“We’re shifting the players around a little because, obviously, the Premier League, Saudi Arabia league, and the MLS players won’t be able to take part in the Unity Cup because they don’t finish until late.
“They will be a part of the World Cup Qualifiers and the Gold Cup, so we’re looking at a provisional squad of about 50 players at the present moment and then, obviously, the closer we get to having to name a squad, we will do that.”
McClaren said the packed schedule has a silver lining though, with the management staff able to hold more consistent camps with the players.
This, he believes, will help with building the team’s chemistry and developing their style of play ahead of the important games.
“The majority of the times that we’ve had the players it has been eight to 10 days, two games; so very little time, probably four sessions each camp,” the Reggae Boyz boss explained.
“This is an opportunity where we can get the players together for a lot longer, embed our principles and get our way of playing, and nail that down.”
AIM
He added, “Because it’s international football, you don’t get them often, so you keep it simple, which we aim to do.”
McClaren said the upcoming games are all aimed towards the programme’s grand ambition of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We’re trying to get some rhythm and momentum from the Unity Cup, World Cup Qualifiers, going into the Gold Cup and then, hopefully, qualifying for the September, October, and November camps,” said McClaren.
“The goal from the beginning has always been World Cup qualification.”
Jamaica will compete against Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria and Ghana in the Unity Cup from May 27 to May 31 at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, England.
Their next assignment will see them facing the British Virgin Islands and Guatemala in the second round of World Cup Qualifiers on June 7 and June 10.
They will then enter the group stage of the Gold Cup, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Panama, Guatemala and Guadeloupe.
English (US) ·